Japanese Blockbuster ‘Shin Godzilla’ Sets its American Release Date

It’s been twelve years since Japanese film studio Toho released its last Godzilla movie, the longest gap between films dating back the first Godzilla movie in 1954. And while Japanese audiences have always loved their kaijū (“strange monsters”) movies, the fact that international audiences are starting to develop a taste for giant monsters has set the stage for Toho to bring back their most famous creation in the 2016 blockbuster Shin Godzilla.

And after a huge opening month in its native Japan — JapanToday notes that the film has grossed over $50 million since opening on July 29 — Shin Godzilla has now secured an American release. According to ComicBook.com (via ScreenRant), the film will be given a limited release in American theaters, with upwards of 440 theaters across the country signing up to screen the movie. Here is the relevant quote from Funimation CEO Gen Fukunaga:

We are thrilled to bring Shin Godzilla to theaters across North America this October. Toho established Godzilla as one of the most iconic monsters in science fiction history and we’re honored to now be a part of that history with the theatrical release of this new movie. Fans will not want to miss this limited theatrical event.

Granted, neither the 2014 Godzilla nor Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rimwere runaway successes at the domestic box office, but strong international numbers for those two films indicate that Shin Godzilla’s success will probably not be limited just to Japan. If you are a kaijū fan, be sure to check for a Fathom Events screening at your local theater. In the meantime, though, be sure to watch this trailer for Shin Godzilla and enjoy the mix of bombastic special effects and old-fashioned rubber suit charm.

Shin Godzilla will play in American theaters the week of October 11–19. As the article notes, tickets will go on sale starting on September 9th.